Progress

Sign the Petition to

Their Excellencies The Right Honourable David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston

Their Excellencies
The Right Honourable David Johnston
Governor General of Canada
and Mrs. Sharon Johnston
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0A1

Harper Fails to Uphold International Treaty

It is our concern that the Harper administrative State in Canada has failed to uphold obligations associated with a legally binding international Treaty.

His failure to uphold this legally binding international Treaty puts fundamental human rights at risk, here, in Canada, as well as globally.

This failure to uphold a legally binding international Treaty has negatively impacted some of the most vulnerable groups in Canada and has attempted to criminalize their expressions of rights and concerns.
All individuals and communities concerned about the health of ecosystems, the health of the natural environment, and the health of human beings and future generations to come have been negatively impacted by this failure to appropriately implement important international priorities regarding the human right to a healthy natural environment.

The Harper administration has withheld important information and resources from Canadians, particularly rural communities and Indigenous Peoples.

Considering the international significance of this legally binding international Treaty and its impact on future generations to come, the protection of human rights and the very health and vitality of the planet itself, such blatant disregard for international peaceful processes and the health and dignity of others, from our perspective, there can be no confidence ability to act in good faith in the Harper administration in Canada.

In Canada, certain groups have been particularly targeted and disadvantaged by this failure to appropriately inform, resource, and implement. This disadvantage and inability to exercise free, prior and informed consent, and circumstances of manipulation and exploitation, have even found their way into the court systems.

There has been tremendous waste of public monies and human resources, as well as years of lost opportunities for new job creations and career opportunities, as dedicated individuals have attempted to protect human rights and the security if our natural environment without the information and resources the international treaty recommended.

Individuals of aboriginal descent, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, have been the most vocal voice attempting to warn and inform us about the failure to adequately protect ourselves and our resources from unsustainable consumption, and those Indigenous Peoples like myself who rely on customary perspective and history, which offer the strongest remedy, are marginalized, criminalized and harassed the most.
Please assist all the people concerned about legitimacy and accountability within the Algonquin Nation, and other Indigenous Peoples, facing immediate procedural disadvantage as a result of this failure to implement.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), also commonly known as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), have come to be known as the as the Rio Conventions, and they are the three main international legally-binding agreements for sustainable development. The Rio Conventions on Biological Diversity, Climate Change, and Desertification reflect forty years of environment and development consciousness.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is recognized for the first time in international law that the conservation of biological diversity is "a common concern of humankind" and is an integral part of the development process. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably. It sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use. Canada has already agreed to and signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. The current administrative State has failed to implement it. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a legally-binding agreement looks at conservation of the ecosystem as a whole.

The convention also offers decision-makers guidance based on the precautionary principle that where there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat. The Convention acknowledges that substantial investments are required to conserve biological diversity. It argues, however, that conservation will bring us significant environmental, economic and social benefits in return.

Some domestic-level access measures are to:

• Create conditions to promote and encourage research contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
• Pay due regard to cases of present or imminent emergencies that threaten human, animal or plant health
• Consider the importance of genetic resources for food and agriculture for food security.

We insist that the harper be held fully accountable regarding his failure to adequately implement the Convention.

We insist that Canadians should be fully informed and that ruralcommunities and Indigenous Peoples have the access to information and resources necessary so that they can have full and effective participation.

Please read this background information and sign the petition to show your support in assisting caring Canadians in protecting our rights and those of future generations to a healthy and prosperous natural world.

Detailed document regarding how Indigenous Peoples rights are to play an important part in protecting our futures available at this link.
http://www.scribd.com/my-uploads

Thank you. Chi migwetch.

Paula LaPierre
Kichesipirini Algonquin First Nation

Signed,

Paula LaPierre

This petition closed 11 months ago

How this will help

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty. The convention recognized for the first time in...

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty. The convention recognized for the first time in international law that the conservation of biological diversity is "a common concern of humankind" and is an integral part of the sustainable development process. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably. It sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use.

The Convention offers precautionary principles for the concerns of futire generations. It also offers special opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and rural communities to have a voice in planning for their futures and unique lifestyles. Indigenous Peoples and local communities are to have full and effective participation.

Failure to implement these key priorities has resulted in criminalization of human rights and environmental activists without their being fully informed or resourced.

This failure to implement has very negative impacts for persons attempting to assert their rights in unceded Algonquin Nation territory.

Show your support and insist that this legally binding international treaty be properly implemented in Canada immediately.